 |
 |
General Information:
Release Date: January 2026
Price Point: $27.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Blasters x 3
Official images and product description in italics below are from Hasbro Pulse:
- Transformers: Devastation Bumblebee action figure features game-inspired deco and details and stands 4.25 inches (10.5 cm) tall in robot mode.
- Transformers figure converts between robot and car mode in 24 steps.
- Bumblebee figure comes with game-inspired accessories that attach in both modes, including twin hand blasters and a larger blaster that attaches to the top of the car.
- Studio Series Transformers figures feature articulation for display-worthy poses.
Transformers Bumblebee is part of the Transformers Studio Series collection. Studio Series figures bring favorite on-screen moments to life with entertainment-inspired deco, details, and accessories that let fans recreate iconic scenes from across the lore. Build your lineup to create a display that is — More Than Meets the Eye.
Background:
In October of 2015, PlayStation and Activision released "Transformers: Devastation" on the PlayStation & XBox. This game was intended to be a "lost adventure" from the G1 cartoon era and featured several G1 voice actors returning to voice Autobots and Decepticons. G1 voice actors Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Dan Gilvezan, Gregg Berger and Michael Bell all returned for this game. With its G1 designs and retro-sensibilities the game was a hit with fans and many fans have expressed a desire for a remaster on modern platforms. While no remaster is on the horizon, we are getting action figures inspired by the game. Previously we had the Elita Seeker and Ground Solider and more recently Sideswipe and Wheeljack. In March 2026, the next "Devastation" figure came in the form of a Deluxe Class Bumblebee.
Packaging:
Bumblebee is packaged in a standard rectangular Studio Series box. The background is black and the red "Transformers" logo is now set horizontally towards the bottom of the box with the "Studio Series" logo under it with a light blue background. Under that is the "Transformers: Devastation" logo and an Autobot symbol with the name "Bumblebee" next to it. The right side features artwork of Bumblebee in both modes. To the left is a series of symbols showing an Autobot symbol, a 24 conversion from robot to truck mode and the 8+ age recommendation. Thanks to the plastic window now protecting the figure the cutout in the front shows off almost the entire figure in box.
The back of the box has a screenshot of Bumblebee from the game and next to that his description says "BUMBLEBEE is ready to take down the DECEPTICONS.". Below that he is shown in both modes calling out his 24 step transformation.
Accessories:
Bumblebee includes three blasters:
Bumblebee's Blasters
A very generic name, I know but that's what they were called in the game (as you can see in this video on Youtube). The two smaller blasters are mirror images of each other based on the same design. This type of blaster was often used as a "generic blaster" in the G1 cartoon. You can see Bumblebee using it in "The Insecticon Syndrome" at about 11:26 in the embed below:
This piece is made of black plastic with most of the weapons painted silver instead of the blue color used in the video game. The 5mm handle is unpainted and you can attach a Blast Effect to the end of the barrel in front.
Blaster (Large)
I spent a good amount of time watching some game play footage and weapon videos on Youtube about "Devastation" but did not see this weapon appear. I'm sure I'm just missing a reference but it is an interesting weapon. This blaster is much larger and features distinct "fins" on the sides of the barrel and a curved detail on the top of the weapon with circles on the sides. This piece is also made of black plastic with silver paint. Interestingly, the front of the barrel has a port, but it cannot fit Blast Effects. Instead, there is a peg on the back that can fit Blast Effects.
Robot Mode:
"Transformers: Devastation" was released in 2015, and at that time one of the most popular representations of G1 Bumblebee in toy form was Classics Bumblebee. The game designers seemed to have taken Classics Bumblebee and refined the design to make him look more like his G1 cartoon design with modern flourishes. The legs are the parts that are most like Classics Bumblebee, featuring streamlined car parts on his feet and panels that cover the front of his lower legs. The rest of the design is very G1 with the cabin section of the vehicle mode forming his torso, G1 styled arms with tubes as his elbows and a G1 cartoon styled head. Part of the vehicle mode forms a "back pack" that is reminiscent of his Throttlebot Goldbug form. Overall the sculpt looks great as a representation of the game model (which you can see in the embed below) and a modern day take on G1 Bumblebee.
Bumblebee is made up of yellow and black plastic, both classic Bumblebee colors. Paint colors include blue, light grey, silver and red. Most of the deco winds up on his head and feet with a large, red Autobot symbol on his torso. The windows on his torso and back are colored blue. In a way, the deco actually provides more detail than the game model which did not color in the side windows on his torso.
There are twenty points of articulation in this mode. That includes three in each arm and six in each leg. It may sound like the arms are lacking in articulation, but the shoulder joints are ball joints, so there is a good range of motion in that area. Each fist has a 5mm port and there is one more on the back for weapon storage.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- On each foot swing out the wheels to the sides.
- On the back of each foot, swing the door panels out.
- Point each foot forward.
- Swing each panel in front of the lower legs forward.
- Push the feet together.
- Swing the back section out.
- Swing the wheels on the back sections out to the sides.
- Swing the head back, and then push the panel under the head down against the bottom of the head.
- Swing the fists into the forearms.
- Swing the arms down.
- Rotate the shoulder sections around so the sides face back.
- Rotate the forearms so the fists face back.
- Swing the torso panel up.
- Swing the lower half of the figure forward on the central hinge.
- Swing the arms down at the shoulders.
- Swing the arms back.
- Swing the forearms up and connect them together.
- Swing the back section down, then swing the cabin section piece back and connect it to the back section.
- Swing the lower legs up over the thighs.
- Swing the leg sections up.
- Swing the rear wheel wells down.
- Swing the rear section with the rear lights down.
- The small blasters can be attached to the doors and any of the weapons can be attached to the 5mm on top of the vehicle.
I have heard that the part where the head goes into the chest piece might scrape off paint from the face. This has not happened to me over the course of four transformations, but be careful.
Vehicle Mode:
Bumblebee's vehicle mode is a hatchback style vehicle similar to Classics Bumblebee. It features a relatively round shape from front to back with tear drop shaped headlights and a spoiler towards the back. Like the in-game model there are rectangular lights on the back set vertically. Like the robot mode, this looks like a modern day version of Bumblebee's classic form and it looks great.
This mode mostly shows off yellow plastic with black plastic used for the wheels. Paint colors include silver, blue and red. Silver is used on the grille, the headlights and the sides of the wheels. Blue is used on all the windows, including (much to my surprise) the rear window. Red is used for the rear lights. My favorite detail is the windshield which is not only blue but features white "reflective" details similar to what is seen in the game. Overall this is a great deco for a vehicle mode!
Final Thoughts:
In this day and age it is not hard to find a Bumblebee on shelf. It seems Hasbro intends to have a Generations Deluxe Bumblebee figure on shelf at all times, so if you just want "a" Bumblebee you can skip this one if you feel like you have 'bees coming out of your ears. But if you are into the Devastation game figures and want to complete a set, this is a must have. Recommended!
Pros:
- The sculpt is very faithful to the Devastation game model.
- I appreciate the inclusion of three weapons given the relatively small size of the figure itself.
- Nice deco in both modes.
- Good articulation.
Cons:
- The paint scraping off the face issue is a bummer. Even though I didn't experience it reviewing this figure, many people online did so it is an unfortunate minus in an otherwise cool figure.
